Airport’s security boosted with new electric fencing

By Shelley Shan / Staff reporter

Sat, Oct 13, 2012 - Page 3

Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport Corp (TIAC) said it has installed an electric fence system on top of the wall around the national gateway, which is scheduled to be activated by the end of this year.

A security loophole was discovered at Taoyuan airport after a woman climbed the perimeter wall which encircles the airport and entered the restricted area in July last year.

The woman managed to drive a ladder truck used by ground crew onto the taxiway and eventually to get herself on board an aircraft.

The company said the airport has a boundary of about 26km, which is currently only protected by one 3m high wall. This wall apparently provided inadequate protection, prompting the company to install the electric fence on top of the wall.

According to the company, the same electric fence system is being used by the Maanshan Nuclear Power Plant in Pintung County and is equipped with fiber-optic sensors.

However, the company said the electric fence system may not be sufficient to deter people from entering the restricted area. It added that it has planned a second wall around the airport next year, which is to be one to two meters higher than the current wall. The two walls would be separated by a few meters.

The company said the triple protection would make it difficult for people to enter the restricted area.